Rope clamp



March 25, 1930. H. P. REl B ER 1,751,833

RRRRRRR MP 'March 25, 1930.

H. P. REIIBER ROPE CLAMP Filed p 21. 192a 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNVENTOR fracture of the strands thereof.

Patented Mar. 25, 1930 HARRY P. REIIBER, OF ELYRIA, OHIO ROPE CLAMP Application filed September 21, 1928.

Myinvention relates to improvements in clamps for well drilling cables, and more particularly to what are known commercially wire-rope clamps.

' Wire-rope clamps of the class to which my invention relates have usually gripped the rope or cable with two semi-circular jaws. This is objectionable on account of the tendency to flatten the rope and the resultant Also, these clan ps are usually of a complicated construction, embodying a considerable number of parts that must be machined and accurately fitted, thus rendering them expensive to make. The action of these clamps render them subject to wear and breakage, due to the uneven distribution of the gripping forces. I I

The prime object of my invention is to provide an assembly of two gripping ele ments, co-acting with a third element to produce an eflicient clamp, wherein the gripping forces are uniformly distributed.

Further objects are, to provide a clamp of the character specified, of simple construction and a minimum number of parts, requiring little machining; a clamp in which the gripping action is accomplished without undue strain on the parts thereof; a clamp which is self-aligning; and a clamp which will not become ineffective through friction and wear.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an application of my invention:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a clamp embodying my invention, in gripping contact with a rope;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line HH of Fig. 1, showing the gripping members in open position;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view, partly in section, the section being on line III-III of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view.

Referring to the drawings, 5 designates the clamp body. As shown, the body is provided with forwardly extending portions 6 and with a centrally disposed longitudinally extending jaw-receiving recess or opening 7 which extends the height of the body. Body Serial No. 307,426.

5 and its portion 6 also are formed with openings 8 extendingtherethrough.

Disposed in said. openings 8 and designed t be movable therein, are bearing arms 9 of two gripping or jaw members 10 and 11, r "peei'ivcly. At their outer ends, arms 9 provided with projecting pins 12 to prent disengagementwith the body 5 and the Wings 8. Both w members are formed th upwardly extending hook elements 13, designed to receive the usual means, not shown. for suspending the clamp structure in a manner well known to those acquainted with art. fiiaid jaw members are further provided with downwardly extending body portions 1% and laterally extending arms 15.

For gripping the cable A, the inner face of body 5 and the jaw members 10 and 11 are provided with rope-gripping means, and, as preferred, arcuate recesses 16 are provided for the purpose of receiving cable-gripping 'ne or slips 1?. Members 17 are secured to CllGll' respective carrying members by countersunk screws 18, the latter being in threaded engagement with bosses 19 thereof. These liners preferably extend from the top s1 .ace of her y 5 downwardly to the under race of extended portions 1 1. The liners may be of various sizes to adapt the clamp to cables of different diameters, and are preferably formed of hardened steel to resist wear.

For adjusting the jaw members, I employ a construction embodying a yoke 20' pivotally secured to the outer end of arm of member 10, by a headed pin 21'. Yoke carries a cross-piece 22 threaded to receive adjusting screw 23; an end of screw 23 bears in a recessed boss 24 carried on the outer end of arm 15-of jaw member 11. Upon retraction of the screw 23, the yoke 20 may be swung clear of the arm 15 of aw member 11, to enable the clamp to be positioned around the cable.

In the use of my clamp, a highly efiicient clamping action is obtained by the co-action of bearing faces a of the jaw members upon the fulcrums 6 provided by the inner vertical edges of walls of the openings 8. It will be seen that such action will operate to bring the gripping portion of body 5 into engagement with the cable. The curvature of faces a and that of the opposite faces 0 of arms 9 of the jaw members allows free pivotal movement of the jaw members, as shown in Fig. '2. Upon placing the clamp around the cable A, and moving arms 15 of the jaw members toward each other, the clamp aligns itself around the cable. Engagement of the yoke 20 and tightening of the screw 23 will produce a uniform gripping action by means of the jaw members acting on the body 5 to bring the latter into gripping contact with the cable. The resulting grip practically encircles the rope, and will not produce uneven distortion. The ratio of the lever arms of this clamp provide for a maximum clamping action with a minimum effort.

It will be seen that I have provided a construction of such character that a greater clamping force may be provided when necessary by simply increasing the lengths of the arms 15 and without altering any other parts of the clamp, and particularly without changing the jaw members and other co-acting parts, as is necessary in all other rope clamps of this character.

My clamp is not limited in its application to wire rope, but may be used in connection with' other kinds of rope, without injury thereto.

I claim:

1. In a rope clamp, the combination with a body having a rope-gripping portion and openings on opposite sides thereof, a jaw loosely mounted in each opening for sliding movement and adapted for fulcruming engagement'with a wall therein, each jaw having a rope-gripping portion, the movementof the jaws toward each other serving to cause each gripping portion to move substantially radially toward the center of the rope.

2. In a rope clamp, the combination with a body having a rope-gripping portion, a j aw loosely mounted on said body on each side of said portion for sliding movement, said body having a wall on each side of said portion with which the aws are adapted for fulcruming engagement, saidwalls being on the opposite side of the axis of the rope to the said gripping portion, each jaw having a ropegripping portion, the movement of the jaws toward each other serving to cause each gripping portion to move substantially radially toward the center. of the rope.

3. In a rope clamp, the combination with a body having a rope-gripping portion and openings on opposite sides of said portion, walls at the opposite sides of each opening, a jaw loosely mounted in each opening for sliding movement and adapted for engagement with the walls therein, each jaw having a rope gripping portion, the movement of the jaws toward. each other due to said engagement serving to cause each gripping portion to move substantially radially toward the center of the rope.

4. In a rope clamp, the combination with a body having a rope-gripping portion and forwardly extending portions on opposite sides thereof,.said forwardly extending portions having openings therethrough, a jaw loosely mounted in each opening, said jaws being substantially L-shaped, each jaw having a rope-gripping portion, said jaws being adapted for fulcruming engagement with walls in saidopenings so that movement of the jaws toward each other serves to cause each gripping portion to move substantially radially toward the center of the rope.

5. In a rope clamp, the combination with a body having a rope-gripping portion and forwardly extending portions on opposite sides thereof, each having an, opening substantially laterally therethrough,a plurality of jaws substantially of L-shape to provide first and second arms, the first arms being loosely mounted in said openings, the side walls of said first arms being curved and adapted for fulcruming engagement with opposite walls in the openings,means whereby the second arms may be drawn toward each other, said second arms having rope-gripping portions adjacent the first rope gripping portion, whereby the movement of the aws toward each other will cause each gripping portion to move substantially radially toward the center of the rope.

6. In a' ropeclamp, the combination with a movable body, of a pair of rope grippingjaws loosely mounted in the body and'ha'vmg integral laterally projecting arms, said body 1 having openings to receive the arms, said arms having fulcruming engagement with walls of the openings upon movement of the jaws to draw the body toward the jaws into rope gripping position.

In testimony whereof I a-flix my signature.

HARRY P. BEIBER. 

